It’s the time of year again for a massive summer blockbuster! Marvel Studios released the official trailer for the highly anticipated Deadpool & Wolverine on Monday morning, which offers a closer look at the return of Ryan Reynolds’ comical Wade Wilson/Deadpool and Hugh Jackman‘s legendary Logan Howlett/Wolverine.
The Deadpool & Wolverine trailer, set to Madonna‘s “Like a Prayer” opens up to a new world within the grand scale of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with characters we haven’t seen before (Dogpool!!!) and those who are back to the theatrical spotlight. Let’s jump into our trailer breakdown!
We’re “Soaking Wet Right Now” for Wolverine’s MCU Debut
The first Super Bowl teaser for Deadpool & Wolverine showed only glances of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, but this trailer shows the character in all his glory. It begins with Wolverine in a place very much familiar to him: a bar.
This quickly escalates to the first verbal interaction between Wolverine and Deadpool since 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine, with Deadpool advising his counterpart to join him in saving his world, however, it’s unclear how Wade’s world is in danger.
With the TVA (Time Variance Authority) led by Mr. Paradox (Succession‘s Matthew Macfadyen) involved in this film’s plot, Wade’s world may be pruned from existence. Presumably, Wade going back in time to save Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) in Deadpool 2 caused a branch in the Sacred Timeline which the TVA has detected.
Deadpool then reveals that this Wolverine’s world is extinct, indicating that this variant is from a world where the X-Men tragically don’t exist anymore. Since the announcement of Jackman’s return to the character, many have theorized that this version of Wolverine is from 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past, as it would be the only timeline where Wolverine would still be alive after 2017’s Logan killed off the character.
One of the massive highlights of Wolverine’s return to the silver screen is the comic-accurate blue and yellow suit that Jackman beautifully dons next to Reynolds’ Deadpool. Ryan Reynolds’ passion for Deadpool & Wolverine has been blooming since the Deadpool 2 post-credits scene, and we’re glad Hugh Jackman agreed to team up with his pal once more.
Cassandra Nova Is Officially Revealed As the Villain of ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’
The theory for this film’s villain has finally been confirmed as Cassandra Nova, played by The Crown‘s Emma Corrin. In Marvel lore, the villain is Professor Charles Xavier’s evil twin sister with telekinetic abilities, and the trailer showcases them being used in action while she fights Wolverine.
Since there are many storylines in Marvel Comics revolving around Cassandra Nova, it’s uncertain which will be adapted for the character in Deadpool & Wolverine. Marvel Studios is known to change characters in certain ways, some making them better, and others more controversial.
Hopefully whatever they do for Cassandra Nova allows her to become an all-time MCU villain in the vein of Cate Blanchett‘s Hela, Tony Leung‘s Wenwu, Michael B. Jordan‘s Killmonger, and Tom Hiddleston‘s Loki.
Fox X-Men Villains Return Alongside… Ant-Man?
Although the reunion of Deadpool and Wolverine is the main focus in this trailer, characters from 20th Century Fox’s X-Men universe appear as well, including Pyro (Aaron Stanford), who was seen in the film’s teaser, Deathstrike (Kelly Hu), and Azazel (Jason Flemyng).
These characters are seen during the void portion of the trailer, and it could be that they’re from other pruned universes. They also appear to be working alongside Cassandra Nova, who walks out of Ant-Man’s giant head and is probably acting as an overlord of sorts in this pruned world.
Returning to the MCU is Alioth, the purple time monster last seen during the events of Loki. It’s possible Cassandra Nova summoned Alioth, as one scene in the trailer shows Deadpool and Wolverine fleeing into a portal with Alioth closely closing in on them.
Yet, who conjured the portal? You’re going to see a lot of theories between now and the film’s July release date. However, as Sorceror Supreme Wong (Benedict Wong) has made multiple appearances throughout most of Phases 4 and 5 in the MCU, he’s a main choice, alongside Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), to save Wade and Logan from the infinitely-hungry gas giant.
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’s R-Rated Humor Shines Through the Trailer
It’s apparent that the immaculate R-rated humor will flourish throughout this film. This is notably visible in the trailer when Wade and Logan say “let’s f------ go” as well as when Blind Al (Leslie Uggams) and Wade share a cheeky callback to the “116 kilos of cocaine buried somewhere in [their] apartment, right next to the cure for blindness” in Deadpool.
Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s arrival in the MCU is long-awaited, and it’s thrilling to finally see it come to life in this monumental way. With Shawn Levy (Free Guy, The Adam Project) helming Deadpool & Wolverine, we’re in for a treat with this killer multiversal buddy cop action-adventure flick featuring the Merc with a Mouth and Wolvie.
Deadpool & Wolverine arrives in theaters on July 26.
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